Tools for Assessment

CO2DB

Schloßplatz 1
A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria

Tel: (43-2236) 715 210 or 807 490
Fax: (43-2236) 71 313
E-mail: siniak@iiasa.ac.at

Overall description

The purpose of CO2DB is to select technologies, calculate efficiency, costs and environmental effects of energy conversion chains from resource base to end user. It gives qualitative and quantitative technology descriptions for CO2 reduction purposes. The databank contains general data, technical data covering physical energy flows, economic data (investment, operating, decommissioning of power plants), environmental data (emissions), labor and materials data, miscellaneous data (regional, existing installations, etc.), and references. The CO2 technology databank is a fully interactive software package designed to allow the user to enter, update, review, and print information on CO2 technologies.

Data requirements

Energy output and energy input have to be provided for the chain calculations.

Spatial coverage

Regional and national energy system coverage depends on the database structure.

Time horizon

No specific requirements, depends on the analysis targets.

Objective

To help in decision-making and comparative assessments of different energy technologies based on technical, economic and environmental criteria.

Issues addressed and basic approach

Macroeconomic analysis

Economic analysis of different technology chains from primary energy production to end-use.

Total energy system analysis

Demand side analysis: Not included;
Resource analysis: Not included;
Supply side analysis: Over 600 technologies are described (from primary energy production to end-use);
Supply/demand balance: Not included.

Detailed electric system analysis

Load curve: Not included;
Load characterization: Not included;
Generation expansion analysis: Cost/environmental analysis of technology options;
Transmission analysis: Cost/environmental analysis of technology options.

Environmental analysis (up to 8 categories of environmental hazards can be treated):

Air-pollution: CO2 emissions, other pollutants for selected technologies;
Water: Currently not available;
Solid waste: Currently not available;
Land use: Currently not available;
Occupational health and safety: Currently not available.
Decision support analysis: Provides useful information on available energy technologies and takes into account direct and indirect effects.

Adaptability

Flexibility
Queries; chain selection and calculation; graphical output; import/export data as ASCII files; internal conversion unit table.

Future development
Other-than-C02 pollutants will be included in the database as well as water and land use.

Transferability

User friendliness
On line help, menu-driven.

Documentation
User guide available in English.

Training
Approximately 2-3 days required.

Case studies
The C02DB database has been submitted to more than 90 individuals and research organizations throughout the world.

Hardware and software requirements

Hardware
IBM PC/386 and compatible;
Minimum 8 MB RAM, 25 MB hard drive;
VGA Color Monitor.

Software
DOS 5.0 or higher;
db-VISTA (not required for users) and Graphic C (non-expensive commercial product).

Bibliography

Messner, S., M. Strubegger, User's Guide to CO2DB: The IIASA CO2 Technology Data Bank, Version 1.0, Working Paper WP-91-31a, Laxenburg, Austria, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, 1991.